Baker Hughes data show U.S. oil-rig count down for a third straight week

Baker Hughes BHGE, -2.13% on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil fell by 2 to 861 this week. The oil-rig count had edged down by 3 last week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes oil and natural-gas rigs, was also lower by 2 at 1,052, according to Baker Hughes. November West Texas Intermediate crude CLX8, +0.54% was up 40 cents, or 0.5%, to $74.73 a barrel from Thursday’s finish, compared with $74.90 before the rig data Friday.

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